Sliver gatherer and conveyor



March 18, 1969 P, 3 WEST SLIVER GATHERER AND CONVEYOR Filed Nov. 30, 1966 FIG. 1

United States Patent (315cc 3,432,891 SLIVER GATHERER AND CONVEYOR Paul Bemis West, Clemson, S.C., assignor to Maremont Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 597,903 US. Cl. 19157 5 Claims lint. Cl. D0411 11/00; D0111 5/72 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a textile sliver gatherer and conveyor for gathering the untwisted sliver delivered in a generally horizontal path from the last pair of generally vertically arranged drafting rolls of a drawing frame and conveying it downwardly along a curved path to a trumpet condenser having its mouth opening positioned in a generally horizontal plane for receiving sliver moving in a generally vertical path and delivering it to a take-up package. The disclosed sliver gatherer and conveyor has, closely adjacent the drafting rolls, a collecting plate with a generally funnel-shaped aperture therein for confining the sliver and directing it into the open entrance end of a sliver conveying tube which extends somewhat in a downward direction but in a straight line for the major portion of its length and then smoothly curves downwardly for a minor portion of its length to direct sliver from its exit end into the trumpet condenser. For threading sliver through the conveying tube, a slot is provided through the upper wall of the tube except along its curved portion so that the rapidly moving sliver, in that region pressed outwardly against the wall of the tube by centrifugal force, will be confined within the tube. A depressor in the form of a sheet metal plate bent in the direction of sliver travel is positioned between the collecting plate and the entrance end of the sliver conveying tube, with its free end extending into the path of the moving sliver from above for a short distance of a small fraction of the smallest opening of the collecting plate aperture to deflect downwardly the upper side of the sliver for most efficient entry into the sliver conveying tube.

This invention relates to textile drawing frame calendering mechanisms and more particularly to novel textile staple sliver gatherer and conveyor means for gathering the untwisted sliver delivered from the drafting rolls and conveying it along a curved path to the trumpet condenser for feeding it to a take-up package such as coiling into a can.

The usual drawing frame has a set of pairs of generally vertically arranged drafting rolls which serve to draft the sliver while moving it generally horizontally to the delivery of the last pair of rolls. From such rolls, the sliver must be moved from its horizontal path in a downwardly curved path into a generally vertical path to a trumpet condenser having its mouth opening in a generally horizontal plane, as for a coiler. During such movement, especially as the path of travel is much greater than the length of the staple fibers of sliver, the sliver must be controlled, and this becomes increasingly dilficult at higher sliver speeds, upwards of 1,000 feet a minute. At such speeds, for example, centrifugal force becomes an important effect, such that control of the sliver along a curved path becomes most difficult. This problem is made worse by the practical necessity of threading a free end of sliver from the last pair of drafting rolls to the trumpet condenser over a distance of about a foot, so that, for example, the use of an enclosed curved tube extending from the delivery rolls to the calender condenser does not provide a practical solution of the problem.

3,432,891 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 It is a major object of the present invention to solve these problems by providing a novel sliver gatherer and conveyor capable of diverting sliver from a generally horizontal to a generally vertical path at high speeds of upwards of 1,000 feet a minute while at the same time controlling it, while still providing such a device capable of being quickly and easily threaded up.

This has been accomplished according to the invention by providing a sliver conveying tube with its entrance end adjacent the last pair of drafting rolls and its exit end adjacent the trumpet condenser of the take-up pack age, said tube extending for a major portion of its length from the drafting rolls in a straight line and then smoothly curving downwardly for a minor portion of its length to deflect the sliver from its generally horizontal path to a generally vertical path for delivery to the trumpet condenser. For threading-up, the tube of the invention has a slotted opening along its wall extending from its entrance end along its straight portion and terminating adjacent the opposite end of the straight portion, with the curved por tion having at least its outer wall free substantially from openings to confine therewithin the sliver being urged outwardly by centrifugal force during its movement through said curved portion. A collector having a generally funnel shaped aperture therein may be positioned between said last pair of drafting rolls and the entrance end of said sliver conveying tube, and a depressor extending downwardly between said aperture and said entrance end with a sliver controlling edge positioned within the projected area of the smaller end of said aperture may be provided to deflect downwardly the upper side of said sliver so that the major straight portion of said sliver conveying tube may be positioned at a slight downward angle with respect to the path of delivery of sliver from said last pair of drafting rolls. Preferably, the exit end of said sliver conveying tube is supported within the trumpet condenser by means of a cover plate on the tube which also operates to cover the trumpet opening.

F or the purpose of more fully explaining further objects and features of the invention, reference is now made to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken together with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a cross sectional side elevational view of a portion of a drawing frame embodying the textile sliver gatherer and conveyor of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the drawing frame of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a detail cross sectional end view of a portion of the sliver gatherer and conveyor of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drawing frame conventionally has a plurality of pairs of drawing rolls of which the generally vertically positioned last pair only, consisting of lower roll 12 and upper roll 14, is shown, such drafting rolls delivering sliver 16 in a generally horizontal path. Such sliver 16 is transported a distance of about a foot to the generally horizontally positioned apertured mouth 20 of trumpet condenser 18 for receiving sliver in a generally vertical path and feeding it through a pair of calendering rolls 22, 24 through which the sliver is passed to a take-up device, such as a coiler. Condenser 18 is preferably mounted on machine frame 10 for upward swinging movement about pivot shaft 26 so that the drawing frame may be stopped in the event of a lap-up on calendar rolls 22, 24 as condenser 18 swings upwardly out of contact with stop motion switch 28 According to the invention, for gathering sliver 16 delivered in its generally horizontal path from said last pair of drafting rolls 12, 14 and conveying it downwardly along a curved path for delivery to the apertured mouth 20 of trumpet condenser 18 in a generally vertical path, there is provided a sliver conveying tube 30, preferably of generally circular cross section. Tube 30 has its somewhat flared open entrance end 32 adjacent the last pair of drafting rolls 12, 14 for receiving sliver delivered therefrom and its exit end 34 adjacent the mouth aperture of trumpet condenser 18. As shown, said exit end 34 is supported within mouth aperture 20 by a cover plate 36 mounted on said tube at an angle thereto such that the periphery of plate 36 will be in contact with trumpet condenser 18 so as completely to cover its mouth aperture 20 and so prevent the emission of fly therefrom.

The novel sliver conveying tube 30 of the invention extends for a major portion of its length from drafting rolls 12, 14 in a straight line throughout portion 31 and then smoothly curves downwardly for a minor portion 33 of its length to deflect said sliver from a generally horizontal path to a generally vertical path for delivery into the mouth aperture 20 of the trumpet condenser 18, with the major straight portion 31 of sliver conveying tube 30 being positioned at a slight downward angle with respect to the path of delivery of sliver 16 from said last pair of drafting rolls 12, 14 so as to minimize the length of the path of sliver travel as well as to facilitate the piecing-up of sliver through tube 30. For such piecing-up, tube 30 is provided with a slotted opening 38 extending along the upper wall thereof from entrance end 32 along straight portion 31 and terminating at the opposite end of said straight portion, with curved portion 33 having at least its outer wall substantially free from openings so as to confine therewithin sliver being urged outwardly by centrifugal force during movement through said curved portion.

In order to facilitate movement of sliver 16 from de livery rolls 12, 14 into the slightly downwardly inclined straight portion 31 of tube 30, the invention also provides a collector plate 40 having a generally funnel shaped aperture 42 therein positioned between the last pair of drafting rolls 12, 14 and the entrance end 32 of the sliver conveying tube 30, as well as a depressor plate 44 extending downwardly between said aperture and said entrance end with a sliver controlling edge 46 positioned within the projected area of the smaller end of said aperture to deflect doamwardly the upper side of sliver 16.

The sliver tube 30 and collector plate 40 are both mounted on frame 10 of the drawing frame by means of a bracket 50 pivotally mounted by shaft 52 on said frame for swinging movement away from drawing rolls 12, 14, so that a plugging of aperture 42 will cause said bracket so to swing and move it out of contact with stop motion switch 54 and stop the drawing frame. Collector plate 40 is directly mounted on the upper end of said bracket, while tube 30 is mounted thereon by means of arms 56 and pivot shaft 58 so that tube 30 may be swung to remove its exit end 34 from aperture mouth 20 of trumpet condenser 18 to permit bracket 50 to be swung away from drafting rolls 12, 14 for access thereto.

In normal operation, sliver 16 passes between drafting rolls 12, 14, through collector plate aperture 42, and, after its upper edge is diverted slightly downwardly by depressor plate edge 46, passes into tube 30. It then passes in a straight line along the straight line portion 31 of tube 30, without any tendency to pass outwardly through slot 38. Upon reaching the curved portion 33 of tube 30, the sliver, moved outwardly into contact with its outer wall by centrifugal force, is guided by said wall around the smooth curve into a generally vertical path without damage thereto by reason of the absence of any apertures in said curved portion and thence passes through trumpet condenser 18 and calender rolls 22, 24 to the take-up device.

For threading-up, sliver 16 is passed from drafting rolls 12, 14 through collector plate aperture 42, through slot 38 into the straight portion 31 of tube 30, with the free end being pushed the short distance from the termi- Cir nation of slot 38 through the curved portion 33 of tube 30 into the mouth aperture 20 of condenser 18.

Various modifications of the invention within the spirit thereof and the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a drawing frame having a generally vertically positioned last pair of drafting rolls for delivering sliver in a generally horizontal path followed by the generally horizontally positioned mouth of a trumpet condenser for receiving sliver in a generally vertical path and feeding it to a take-up package:

means for gathering sliver delivered in said generally horizontal path from said last pair of drafting rolls and conveying it downwardly along a path in part curved for delivery to said trumpet condenser in a generally vertical path comprising a sliver conveying tube having its entrance end adjacent said last pair of drafting rolls for receiving sliver delivered therefrom and its exit end adjacent to said trumpet condenser,

a cover plate mounted on said tube and supporting said exit end thereof within said trumpet condenser, said cover plate covering the mouth of said trumpet condenser,

said tube extending for a major portion of its length from said drafting rolls in a straight line portion and then smoothly curving downwardly for a minor portion of its length in a curved portion to deflect said sliver from a generally horizontal path to a generally vertical path for delivery to said trumpet condenser, and said tube having a slotted opening extending continuously along and through th outer wall of said straight portion from said entrance end to adjacent the opposite end of said straight portion, with said curved portion having at least its outer wall free substantially from' openings to confine therewithin sliver being urged outwardly against said wall by centrifugal force during movement through said curved portion.

2. A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the portion of said tube between said exit end thereof and said cover plate is free from openings.

3. In combination with a drawing frame having a generally vertically positioned last pair of drafting rolls for deliverying sliver in a generally horizontal path followed by the generally horizontally positioned mouth of a trumpet condenser for receiving sliver in a generally vertical path and feeding it to a take-up package:

means for gathering sliver delivered in said generally horizontal path from said last pair of drafting rolls and conveying it downwardly along a path in part curved for delivery to said trumpet condenser in a generally vertical path comprising a sliver conveying tube having its entrance end adjacent last pair of drafting rolls for receiving sliver delivered therefrom and its exit end adjacent to said trumpet condenser, said tube extending for a major portion of its length from said drafting rolls in a straight line portion and then smoothly curving downwardly for a minor portion of its length in a curved portion to deflect said sliver from a generally horizontal path to a generally vertical path for delivery to said trumpet condenser said major straight portion of said sliver conveying tube being inclined at a slight downward angle with respect to the path of delivery of sliver from said last pair of drafting rolls and having a slotted opening along the Wall thereof extending from said entrance end along said major straight portion and terminating adjacent the opposite end of said straight portion, with said curved portion having at least its outer wall substantially free from openings to confine therewithin sliver being urged outwardly against said wall by centrifugal force during movement through said curved portion, and

sliver control means positioned between said last pair of drafting rolls and the entrance end of said sliver conveying tube, including depressor means extending downwardly with a sliver controlling edge positioned to deflect downwardly the upper side of said sliver into said inclined sliver conveying tube, and including collector means having a generally funnel-shaped aperture therein positioned between said depressor means and said last pair of drafting rolls, with said sliver controlling edge positioned within the projected area of the smaller end of said funnel-shaped aperture.

4. In combination with a drawing frame having a generally vertically positioned last pair of drafting rolls for delivering sliver in a generally horizontal path followed by the generally horizontally positioned mouth of a trumpet condenser for receiving sliver in a generally vertical path and feeding it to a take-up package:

means for gathering sliver delivered in said generally horizontal path from said last pair of drafting rolls and conveying it downwardly along a path in part curved for delivery to said trumpet condenser in a generally vertical path comprising a sliver conveying tube having its entrance end adjacent said last pair of drafting rolls for receiving sliver delivered therefrom and its exit end supported within said trumpet condenser by a cover plate mounted on said tube and covering the trumpet condenser aperture, said tube extending for a major portion of its length from said drafting rolls in a straight line portion and then smoothly curving downwardly for a minor portion of its length in a curved portion to deflect said sliver from a generally horizontal path to a generally vertical path for delivery to said trumpet condenser said major straight portion of said sliver conveying tube being inclined at a slight downward angle with respect to the path of delivery of sliver from said last pair of drafting rolls and having a slotted opening along the wall thereof eX tending from said entrance end along said major straight portion and terminating adjacent the opposite end of said straight portion, with said curved portion free from openings to confine therewithin sliver being urged outwardly against said wall by centrifugal force during movement through said curved portion, and

a collector having a generally funnel-shaped aperture therein positioned between said last pair of drafting rolls and the entrance end of said sliver conveying tube, including a depressor extending downwardly between said aperture and said entrance end with a sliver controlling edge positioned within the projected area of the smaller end of said aperture to deflect downwardly the upper side of said sliver into said inclined sliver conveying tube.

5. A combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

said sliver conveying tube is of generally circular, uniform cross section throughout its length and said slotted opening is along the upper wall of said tube.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,020,600 2/1962 West 19157 3,362,049 1/1968 Kiser 19150 FOREIGN PATENTS 587,095 4/ 1947 Great Britain.

DORSEY NEWTON, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

